The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-06-04
MAGNIFICENT MONUMENT
To General Steedman, the Hero OF
Chickamauga.
Address by General Smith, Of Illinois, and
. tt ibute to Union valoe By Governor
Foraker.

TOLEDO, O., May Q6.-Aboat 5000 people
witnessed the unveiling Of the statue erected
70 General James B. Steedman and presented 10
the city to-day by Colonel wm. J. Finley, lifc-
long friend and admircr Of General Steedman.
Finley Place, the site Of the statue, and named
in honor OF the donor, was gayly decorated, as
was the case with the houses oil along tho
principal streets. A platform had
been erected for the accommodation OF the
speakers, ofncers Of the day and invited !.
guests, to the number OF 500. Among those on
the platform were Colonel VIM. j. Finley,
donor Of the statue; Governor j. b. Foraker,
president Of the day, and his stan; General
j. c. Smith, Lieutenant Governor Of Illinois,
and orator Of the day; Governor G. l.. Luce,
OF Michigan, and stan; Ex-President r. b.
Hayes General John Beatty Hon. John F.
Kumler, Mayor J. X. Hamilton, ono hundred
vice-presidents from among the prominent
citizens Of Toledo and other communities and
invited guests There were about five thou
sand men in line in the procession, prominent
among whom were the surviving members of the
Fourteenth Regiment, o. v. l., General Steed
mans old regiment carrying the tattered colors
OF the regiment. These were hung up about the
pedestal Of the statue, which was fes-
TONED with flowers Thirty-eight girls,
personating the States, led by the
Goddess Of Liberty had seats upon the
pedestal Of the statue.
Governor Foraker was introduced MS the
President Of the day by Hon. John F. Kumler.
The Governor said he would leave to others to
cxtol the princely libcrality Of Mr. Finley, and
as for General Steedman and his noted quail
ties OF heroism and valor and patriotism,
could speak of him and Of them only with that
sort Of sacred soldierly pride that is born to
priceless recollection Of u 'comradeship with
him on the bloody fields where he has won his
imperishable name. [Applause.l But want
to speak o word for the good of all the living,
and for the honor of NIL our patriot dead. And
the word would speak is one Of congratulation
and profound thankfuness for this occasion;
thankfulness that the long and almost uninter-
rupted line Of newspaper accounts which we
have been reading day after day for the
last three months about the unvciling
and dedicating of monuments erected in honor
OF Confederate soldiers and Confederate Cen
erals and Confederate statesman, and Confed-
crate every thing else has at last suffered
at least this rnuchs of On integruptaeA, fgreat
applause], and that In consequence the Ameri.
can people will be given an opportunity
in to-morrow's newspaper accounts of this
days work to read once more about the
thrilling story Of loyalty and patriotism.
lRenewed appiause] And would utter this
word because I am simple minded enough to
come to the conclusion that while SO much Is
being said and done In honor of the men who
undertook to destroy the Government that
they might perpetuate the curse and crime of
slavery, 1t is well enough, ut least now and then
to raise stone and lift voice in honor OF the
men by whose heroism and sacrifice their in
famous iniQuity was prevented Of its consum
nation [Great applause.l Though 1t may be
all right to erect monuments to the honor Of
men who fought with courage and bravery for
that which they believed to be right yet It is
better to erect monuments in honor of men
who not only fought with courage and bravery
for that which they believed to be right,
but for that which was in fact right
[renewed appause], for men who not
only had on their side conscientious con-
viction Of duty, but who also had on their side
truth and justice and human liberty, the stars
and stripes, American nationality, and that
great cause for all mankind, free popular gov
ernment. [Applausel In this matter of erect
ing monuments let me call attention to this
fact-that every country, every age, every civil
ization, has produced whole generations of men
who believed they were right; whole generations
who were willing to gallanty fight and willing
to die, II need be, In behalf OF q cause which
they had a conscientious conviction. wnS o Just
cause; but never before did the 1, people
of the world think it appropriate to
erect monuments in their honor II all such
men had monuments standing in their men,
ory to-day there would not be room left to live
ON the earth. The reason is that they teach
nothing OF value to the living and bear
no message OF worth to rosterity. Such mon
uments do but cumber the ground, and the
high-sounding praises with which they are
set up are but the twaddle Of sentimentalky
that must die with the breath that has ut
tered them. IApplause.l But not so with this
monument. 1t stands there and will in years
to come, not only to perpetuate to posterity
the form and features OF James B. Steedman
and to tell the thrilling story OF his lofty patriot
ism and soldiery deeds, but 1t also stands there
to forever proclaim that he was identified with
that great cause in which by the blood of our
patriotic dead it was inscribed in the organic
law Of this country that the Constitution ofthe
United States was not made by tho States, but
but by the people, and that in consequence the
general Government as to all powers by that in.
strument delegated to 1t is supreme over States
and people alike 1t stands there to proclaim
the death OF that great heresy, secession that
General Steedman SO hated and despised It
stands there to proclaim civil and political
equality for all American citizens; it stands
there to attest the indissolubility of the Ameri-
can Union and that the American people are an
American nation. And 1t is because it signifies
all this that have accounted it duty as well
as pleasant privilege to come here and Join
with you to-day in its unveiling and dedication.
[Great applause.l 1t is because 1t signifies no
less than that speak word of congratulation
and thankfulness that 1t should have been
erected. Al
Governor Foraker then presented Colon6l
William j. Finley, whose gift to the city3he
statue was. storm of cheers, shouts and
yells broke from the vast multitude upon
Colonel Finley's appearance, which was rolled
back and repeated as the drapeVy ogak the
statue was pulled aside by q cord I'm the hands
Of Emma Steedman, granddaughter of Gem
eral Steedman, and now On inmate Of the Sol
liers' and Sailors Orphans Home at Xenia O.,
thus disclosing to view the well known form
and features of the old hero of Chioka-
mauga. Colonel Finley then formally pre-
sented the deed TO Mayor Hamilton for
the city Of Toledo. General j. G. Smith,
Of Illinois, had proceeded but short
time with his orntion when tho drixzling rain.
which had been falling ever since the exercises
commenced, settled into u steady downpour. and
the exercises were adjourned until evening in
Memorial Hall, when General Smith delivered
his Grafton, and the poem composed for the
occasion by Mrs. Brownlee Sherwood WIS read
BY Mrs. Rcbecca SteedmAn MoCamp, niece Of
General Steedman.
Southern Farmer-"I want to Sc
Loot n hiey efocL NJ coodo Cor INV form, ~